The graphics on my teaching resources is getting an upgrade! I decided to treat myself to a new graphics tablet - believe it or not, I was a mouse drawer before...! :o I decided I made enough digital drawings for my clip art and teaching resources to warrant a technology upgrade, so this is my new toy: The Huion GT-185HD!

USA Amazon link: The Huion GT-185HD
UK Amazon link: The Huion GT-185HD

It's a product coming from China (although delivery from Amazon was insanely fast and their customer service is second to none!). I have been pleasantly surprised by this product! Other than Wacom who make the Cintiq and dominate the graphics tablet market, no other mainstream companies manufacture these - the only place to get more cost effective alternatives is online, and Amazon is always my number 1 choice for that!

So I went for the newest product out there which is the Huion GT-185HD model. It's HD quality, 18.5 inches from corner to corner, has 2048 pen pressure sensitivity, express keys on the side, rotating viewing angles and more!

It's easy to learn how to use and it's so great being able to draw straight onto a screen for once. The hand eye co-ordination required for mouse or other drawing tablets wasn't quite cutting it for me.. but the Huion GT-185HD makes digital drawing so much easier and it feels more natural. I'm excited to make more clip art and teaching resources using it this year!

It's great quality and value for money, especially comparing it to the Wacom Cintiq! If you're looking for a drawing tablet monitor, then I would recommend checking this model out - there are excellent reviews of it on Amazon too if you want to read more:
​
USA Amazon link: GT-185HD
UK Amazon link: GT-185HD

I've already made a few things with it so far and am excited for future products I will be creating soon too - watch this space!

Colouring pages are not just for little kids! I have made quite a few sets of teen- worthy colouring pages recently that my students have really been enjoying. It helps to just calm, focus and relax them, plus they can then be used as decoration afterwards!

It's perfect for back to school season as something you can do with your classes or tutor groups to help ease them into the new school year - they can then decorate the insides of their lockers or classrooms when they've finished.

If you like these and want some more colouring pages, check out these sets below and don't forget to follow my store to be alerted of any new additions to the collection in the future (they are coming!)

Your students (and you - it's ok, I won't tell anyone...) will definitely enjoy taking some time out to do some colouring whilst meditating on themed positive quotes. It's fun, relaxing, therapeutic and stress-busting so why not give it a go! 

Simply print, photocopy, colour and display! I hope you enjoy it!

Back to school season usually starts off with students being organised and ready to go! However, as time goes on the novelty of the new stationery soon wears off and pencils soon stop making as many appearances in lessons... Well, this year I am trying something new to discourage this pattern!

I usually purchase a new pack of fresh pencils every year as "back ups" for students but really, it's not teaching them to be organised knowing I have them covered with freshly sharp pencils. Last year I tried just handing out a scabby set of second hand pencils that I collated from the lost and found in my classroom over time but honestly, that wasn't really much of a deterrent for most. So instead, I have hunted for the most hideous pencils that a teenager would ever want to use let alone keep in the hopes that they decide it's not worth the humiliation! (P.S. All images are clickable to download straight from Amazon.)

1) "The Teacher's Pencil - Return pencil to teacher". Awesome. Not exactly the coolest pencil to be carrying around and no way will this ever "accidentally" slip in anyone's pencil case. Plus the instructions on what to do with the pencil at the end of the lesson are written in front of their face - no excuses!

2) "The giant pencil". Not sure how practical this is, but hey, that might be a great lesson for them! If my pencils are too awkward and embarrassing to use, then bring your own next time!?

3) "My Little Pony" pencils - or anything that a teenager would find patronising. And before anyone says I'm mean, hey, no one is forcing them to use these pencils, they do have the option to bring their own you know...! 

4) Personalise your own pencils - this way, you can write your name or even something witty and clever to encourage them to never want to use it again! Even something along the lines of "I want to marry Justin Bieber" might have the right effect on teenagers...! The beauty of these, is that choice is yours.

So there you go, some ideas on awesome, hideous pencils to deter your teen students from "borrowing" yours all the time - I will definitely be trying these out. I'm tempted to go for the My Little Pony ones first...! If you have tried this or decide give it a go, share the results in the comments below!